Public Health: is this first professional degree worth it?
National picture across 5 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$77,992 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$77,992Median year-4 earnings
$22,184Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Public Health
How much do Public Health first professional degree graduates earn?
The national median is $77,992 four years after completion across reportable first professional degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Public Health?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $73,749 to $109,806 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Public Health?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 12 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$77,992Median reported earnings · year 4
$88,948Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
36thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
5With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $36,698
- Federal debt
- $17,726
- Reporting programs
- 8
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $43,403
- Federal debt
- $21,789
- Reporting programs
- 22
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,499
- Federal debt
- $25,875
- Reporting programs
- 256
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $77,605
- Federal debt
- $20,716
- Reporting programs
- 8
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $79,533
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 207
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $111,411
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 10
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $77,992
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $95,664
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 9
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$73,749National median$77,99275th percentile$109,806
5 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
5 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Dartmouth College$116,4162University of California, Berkeley$109,8063University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus$77,9924University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center$73,7495University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus$73,749Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →26%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$107,310 median wage221,270 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1071+17.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 24.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$59,270–$322,020 10th–90th percentileMedical and Health Services Managers$123,860 median wage597,080 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9111+24.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 62.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$73,390–$224,340 10th–90th percentileHealth Education Specialists$64,070 median wage65,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 21-1091+5.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 6.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$42,990–$118,200 10th–90th percentileCommunity Health Workers$51,850 median wage61,660 U.S. jobs · SOC 21-1094+12.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$38,810–$77,180 10th–90th percentileOccupational Health and Safety Specialists$90,150 median wage140,610 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-5011+18.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 17.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$55,000–$134,950 10th–90th percentileOccupational Health and Safety Technicians$61,560 median wage30,590 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-5012+19.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$46,280–$100,160 10th–90th percentilePhysicists$172,250 median wage20,430 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-2012+7.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$82,110–$274,110 10th–90th percentileMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,410 median wage172,340 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1042+12.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 10.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$64,800–$177,780 10th–90th percentilePhysics Teachers, Postsecondary$100,310 median wage13,090 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1054+2.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$60,200–$177,850 10th–90th percentileGenetic Counselors$100,040 median wage3,740 U.S. jobs · SOC 29-9092+10.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$78,270–$138,760 10th–90th percentileEpidemiologists$87,220 median wage12,090 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1041+18.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$61,270–$138,800 10th–90th percentileEnvironmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,220 median wage89,250 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-2041+6.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$52,520–$140,010 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dartmouth CollegeFirst Professional Degree | Hanover, NH | $116,416 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $29,519 |
| 2 | University of California, BerkeleyFirst Professional Degree | Berkeley, CA | $109,806 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,481 |
| 3 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusFirst Professional Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $77,992 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $30,434 |
| 4 | University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences CenterFirst Professional Degree | Oklahoma City, OK | $73,749 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 5 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusFirst Professional Degree | Norman, OK | $73,749 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $15,300 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.